PERMODALAN Nasional Bhd (PNB) expects to start ground works on the proposed 100-storey Menara Warisan Merdeka project by the middle of next year.

Its president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said PNB has already submitted plans, including design and concept for approval to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall recently.

"We hope to receive the approval soon and will make an announcement accordingly," he told reporters after a media briefing to announce the income distribution for its Amanah Saham Bumiputera scheme for financial year ended December 31 2011 here yesterday.

He said this when was asked to provide update on the mega project.

"Usually, it takes several months for the approvals from the City Hall. We will give ample time to City Hall to evaluate thoroughly to avoid any problems in future.

"(But) by the middle of next year, we think we can carry out several groundworks and others on the project," he said.

Earlier reports said that PNB will be undertaking the RM5 billion Warisan Merdeka development over three phases in 10 years, starting with the 100-storey tower this year.

It was reported that the development will also have a shopping complex and condominium.

The tower - touted to be the country's tallest - will cost RM2.5 billion to RM3 billion and will have gross floor space of three million sq ft and 2.2 million sq ft of net floor space.
It is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

It was also reported that PNB had set up wholly-owned unit PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd to undertake the project.

PERMODALAN Nasional Bhd (PNB) has obtained the development order from City Hall to build the 100-storey Menara Warisan Merdeka.

Earlier reports said PNB would be undertaking the RM5 billion Warisan Merdeka development in three
phases over 10 years, starting with the 100-storey tower this year.

The tower - touted to be the country's tallest - will cost RM2.5 billion to RM3 billion and will have gross floor
space of three million sq ft and net floor space of 2.2 million sq ft. It is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

Fong had asked Raja Nong Chik to state the conditions imposed on Permodal Nasional Bhd (PNB) before it could be granted a development order to build the tower in Jalan Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur.

In his reply, RaJa Nong Chik said one of the conditions was for the "design of the antenna on top of the proposed 118 storey building to be improved so that it is more attractive and suitable with the tower's facade.

"The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has yet to issue a development order for the construction project of the tower as applied by the developer, PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd," he said.

In his reply, RaJa Nong Chik said one of the conditions was for the "design of the antenna on top of the proposed 118 storey building to be improved so that it is more attractive and suitable with the tower's facade.

And that's how you do it. You don't chop off 200 ft...

__________________NEW YORK. World's capital.

“Office buildings are our factories – whether for tech, creative or traditional industries we must continue to grow our modern factories to create new jobs,” said United States Senator Chuck Schumer.

__________________The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth GalbraithWe must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.Elie Wiesel

The foundation for the 118- storey skyscraper Warisan Merdeka project within the enclave of Merdeka Stadium and Stadium Negara will kick off next week with the contract for the works assigned to Pintaras Jaya Bhd’s subsidiary for RM74 million.

The iconic project that is estimated to be worth RM5 billion had been halted for sometime.

Pintaras, in an announcement at the stock exchange yesterday, said its subsidiary Pintaras Geotechnics Sdn Bhd received a commencement date notice dated March 12 this year from PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd to undertake foundation works for the proposed building at Warisan Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur (KL).

“The said works are to commence on March 17, 2014, with a completion period of about a year,” it said.

The project was earlier expected to start in 2011, and scheduled to be completed in 2015, however, after the delay of almost three years in commencement of works, the completion may take longer.

The overall Warisan Merdeka development will be on 19 acres and the heritage stadiums, the site is set to be another major landmark in KL.

As per the initial plan, the two stadiums will be retained as national heritage buildings.

The development was supposed to consist of a complex for a mall, residences and an office skyscraper.

With 118 floors, the height of the building will exceed 500m, surpassing the current tallest buildings in Malaysia, the 452m Petronas Twin Towers.

An initiative by Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), the building may also be used as the PNB headquarters.

KUALA LUMPUR: Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) is talking to multi national corporations (MNCs) on leasing space at the RM5 billion Warisan Merdeka tower, here.
Several MNCs have indicated their interest to move into the tower when it is completed in 2020, said a company official, who declined to be named.

“PNB is not worried about the take-up rate as almost 70 per cent of the building space will be occupied by the group and its subsidiaries. A mall and luxury hotel will take up more than 10 floors and the rest is for MNCs and other corporate players,” the official said.

However, the concern is more on rising raw material prices, shortage of foreign labour and keeping the cost within budget.
PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd (PNBMV), a unit of PNB — the country’s biggest asset manager — is undertaking the development of the 118-storey Warisan Merdeka tower project.

The project, which will be developed on a 7.6ha site, is located within the enclave of Merdeka Stadium and Stadium Negara.
The two stadiums will be retained as national heritage buildings.
The project was met with scepticism by some parties due to the oversupply of commercial real estate here but PNB has gone ahead with the development as it is bullish on its prospects.

In March, PNBMV awarded the first contract worth RM74 million to Pintaras Geotechnics Sdn Bhd, a unit of Pintaras Jaya Bhd, to undertake the foundation works for the tower.
PNBVW is expected to award a few more contracts over the next several months for clearance works and infrastructure development, the company official said.
He added that the contract for the superstructure will also be tendered out by year-end.
It has been reported that the gross development cost of the tower, which will exceed 500m in height, is between RM2.5 billion and RM3 billion.

Warisan Merdeka tower will have a gross floor space of three million sq ft and net floor space of 2.2 million sq ft. Once completed, it will be the tallest building in Malaysia, surpassing the 452m Petronas Twin Towers.